Chapter 113

As I mentioned before, the deep parts of the Chaos Forest are a high-level place in the Soul World.

With abundant prey around, a wide variety of flora and fauna can be found, including plenty of predators.

Especially when you first enter, Porori greets you quite warmly. They kindly knock you out with Cheolsan-go and say not to come back!

Not to mention, the predators from outside frequently venture in. When I lived in the forest, I often had uninvited guests invading my territory.

“Kuuwuuuu!!!”

In that sense, Usuk, whom I just ambushed, is no different. I aimed for its head, but it didn’t penetrate well, probably because of its tough hide.

Usuk looks like it could have been straight out of a popular space war game. Just like its appearance, that tough hide isn’t easy to get through.

Especially against a character focused on ‘slashing,’ Usuk is a hard counter. Its slashing resistance is a whopping S, so that says it all.

To slash through Usuk’s hide isn’t possible unless you’re Rod. Even professors can’t take it down unless they aim for its head.

‘I’ve come a long way from the prairies.’

I observed Usuk, now frantically thrashing about with an axe embedded in its head. Usuk is a monster that inhabits the prairies.

Just as an elephant is called the true king of beasts on earth, Usuk holds that position in this world too.

There are real elephants in this world, but it implies that Usuk is just as threatening.

Just look at those blade-like tusks and sturdy hide. You wouldn’t even dare to fight it.

‘Seeing just the two of them suggests they’ve been expelled from their group.’

I spread my hand to retrieve Ragnarok and moved forward. As I picked up the axe stuck in its head, the frenzied Usuk glared at me.

Given there’s a small baby next to Usuk, it seems to be female. Also, it’s clear that they’ve strayed from the group.

Usuk usually lives in groups, just like real elephants. Males wander alone unless it’s mating season.

There’s only one reason for being expelled from the group: losing in a hierarchy battle among its peers. It’s quite similar to human politics.

“Kuuwuuuu!!”

While I was contemplating Usuk’s way of life, its mother began charging at me.

She must have realized I was the culprit after seeing the axe in my hand. I threw the axe first to deflect my focus.

‘They say it’s quite delicious.’

I watched as Usuk charged toward me, lost in my thoughts. In the Soul World, Usuk is reputed to be particularly tasty.

Unlike elephants or other animals, its meat isn’t tough; it has almost no hide. This can be attributed to its investment solely in that tough exterior.

Even lightly cooking it in the Soul World grants buffs, and it fetches crazy prices in the market.

Most importantly, just look at those sharp, blade-like tusks. They belong to a higher tier of materials.

‘Killing it ahead of time wouldn’t hurt.’

Usuk is a huge imbalance if left on the outskirts. Even though it’s been separated from the group, it’s still bound to cause significant harm to the students.

Just being crushed under those hefty legs would turn small creatures to mush. Ordinary attacks wouldn’t even tickle it.

I’m really sorry for Usuk, but it has to be taken down here for everyone’s benefit. Living in the inner parts is fine, but the outskirts are a different story.

‘It seems to have chosen the safer outskirts because of the baby, but…’

It’s a no-go. I braced my legs firmly as Usuk charged right in front of me.

The axe had been thrown carelessly on the ground for a while.

Kuwoong!

And then, I collided with the massive Usuk. Its head was at about the same height as mine, giving me plenty of places to grab onto.

Chwaaaak!

Perhaps due to the force of its charge, I was pushed back a bit. But my legs held firm and I remained steady.

I was simply waiting and in position, meaning my strength was certainly not inferior to Usuk’s.

Besides, the distance I was pushed back wasn’t much. I even used magic power just in case.

“Be careful!”

I heard Sara’s warning. The moment I did, I felt a chill creeping across my right side.

Turning my head, I saw the sharp blade-like tusks inching toward me to slice.

Usuk’s tusks are famously sharp. So would they be able to pierce my body?

Thud!

I caught one of the blade-like tusks with one hand as it came to cleave me in half.

At the same time, I felt a sharp pain that was beyond just a sting, as if I had been sliced. It was a bitter pain I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Just how sharp could it be to pierce through my body? Another reason I can’t let Usuk go.

If I let it slip away here, there would be others looking to take it down. That would lead to even more casualties.

Snap!

Holding onto the tusk, I clenched my fist with my other hand. As I did, red lightning crackled to life.

Normally, I would just use magic power, but I figured lightning might also come in handy. Those tusks were sharp yet sturdy.

I was fully prepared to counterattack. I slammed my hand infused with lightning down onto the center section of the tusk I was holding.

Quwaang!

“Kuuwuuuu!”

Upon hitting down with my fist, the tusk broke cleanly in half. Usuk screamed, clearly in pain.

I quickly checked my throbbing palm. And upon inspecting my hand, I couldn’t help but be somewhat shocked.

It was beyond just being cut; it was shredded. I could have easily ended up severed in half.

‘They don’t call it an elephant for nothing.’

Typically, these tusks would fetch an exorbitant price if brought to market. They not only look spectacular but also possess remarkable properties.

Of course, like the elephants on Earth, it’s not the sort of thing that’s hunted. Hunting Usuk requires putting your life on the line.

Those skilled enough to hunt Usuk typically opt for something else over taking it down.

Whimper-

Thanks to my regeneration ability, my hand that was nearly in tatters quickly healed. As soon as my hand recovered, I moved to the next action.

Before Usuk got back its wits, I squeezed myself inside the still somewhat intact part of the tusk.

Perhaps because my view was obstructed, the mother couldn’t react at all. She was too busy figuring out where I went.

Using that moment, I climbed onto her back. The moment I did, Usuk began thrashing about again.

‘What I’ve learned must be put to use.’

Just like a raging bull, the mother Usuk was wildly bucking. I steadied myself, focusing strength into my fists.

Even though they blended with red magic, I knew how to use them. So I employed the skill ‘Condensation’ that I learned from Kronos.

Kwa-chik!

I slammed my fist, now enhanced with Condensation, down hard onto Usuk’s head.

No matter how tough the hide is, it’s not indestructible. Particularly, Usuk’s head is the one spot where the hide is relatively thinner.

“Kuuwuuuu!”

Usuk wriggled in pain from the blow, writhing and fighting. The area I struck was where the axe had been lodged.

I barely managed to hold my ground against being thrown off. I was able to do this because I gripped Usuk’s head tightly with one hand.

Kwa-chik!

As I struck again, Usuk writhed in agony. I made sure to control things so Usuk wouldn’t go towards Luna.

Kwa-chik! Kwa-chik! Crack!

I kept pounding away with my fists. Each strike sent Usuk into a frenzy, and it began to smash everything in the forest.

From thick trees to hard stones, it tore through the forest, slicing with its tusks and slamming its bulk into everything around.

The ecosystems were crashing down from the havoc wreaked by Usuk, who was on the verge of being subdued. I felt it was a good decision to take action.

Kwa-zik!

“Kuuwuu…!”

It seems the moment to finish things is approaching. Considering how Usuk’s screams are lessening, it’s a sign.

I spread my hand again to retrieve Ragnarok. Then, I infused both lightning and magic power and brought it down onto its head.

Crack!

“Kuuwuu…!”

Before Usuk could even finish its scream, I pounded downwards. Using the axe jammed into its head as leverage, I exerted more force.

Kuwoong!

Thus, the elephant-sized Usuk collapsed weakly. After taking a hit to the head, its brain must have turned to mush.

I pulled out the axe embedded in its head and once again struck down with all my might toward Usuk’s head.

“Huff!”

Kwa-chik!

Usuk trembled violently as the axe struck its head and then drooped lifelessly. It was truly dead.

One of its tusks was completely shattered, and its head was completely smashed. It hadn’t been as difficult as I thought.

With such a massive size, speed—especially agility—definitely takes a hit. It particularly has very poor turning ability.

‘Dealing with them can be tough.’

I wiped the blood off my regenerated hand and stared at Usuk. I could manage to carry it out of here.

But I was unsure where to dispose of it. The Academy has a workshop, but Usuk is one of the higher-quality monsters.

It’s valuable enough to be put up for auction rather than just going to the workshop. Just the tusks alone would fetch a staggering price.

‘As long as I get the meat, I don’t care.’

I’m not picky about the tusks or hide. I just need to ask the butcher to prepare it nicely for me.

So, I need to take it away as soon as possible. After all, meat deteriorates the longer it’s left out.

“Kuuw…”

“?”

At that moment, I heard a quiet sound near my ear. Turning my head, I saw the baby Usuk whining beside its mother.

Does it realize its mother has died? It looks so genuinely sorrowful.

Even a beast with a fearsome appearance can be incredibly cute when it’s a baby.

“What should I do with the baby?”

“Maybe it’s better to leave it alone?”

“Even such a monster would struggle alone.”

Students who had been watching from the side exchanged a few words. They too seemed to feel sorry for the baby Usuk.

Listening to their conversation, I glanced at Luna. She was alternating her gaze between me and the dead Usuk with a look of admiration.

Sara looked no different. She’d be able to handle Usuk, but it likely would take a long time and come with significant damage.

‘First, I need to send the baby away.’

With that thought in mind, I walked toward the baby.

******

I’d somewhat expected it, but it was still impressive. Watching Sivar single-handedly take down Usuk left Luna in awe.

Sivar has a history of taking down Mankey in less than five seconds. So, she thought he would finish off Usuk in no time as well.

But if Usuk was tough, or maybe Sivar was just facing a challenge, he seemed to struggle at first too.

Of course, he struggled, but the moment he saw an opening, he mercilessly pounded its head and subdued it.

He finished with his signature axe slam, leaving no doubt about his prowess.

‘I’m glad I wasn’t born an animal.’

That thought suddenly popped into my head. If I were born an animal and ventured into the Chaos Forest, I would have been killed by Sivar.

Thinking how lucky I was to be born human, I noticed Sivar approaching the baby Usuk.

“Kuuwu!”

The baby Usuk, mourning its mother’s death, began to grow wary as Sivar drew near.

It seemed to instinctively know that Sivar had killed its mother. According to Sara, Usuks are highly intelligent creatures.

‘Is he just going to let it go?’

I’ve read sometimes about predators who didn’t know there were babies and hunted the mothers, later feeling guilty.

That means they also have emotions and carry the burden of guilt. I found that quite striking.

“Professor, what will happen to that baby?”

“Even as a baby, Usuk is still Usuk. If it’s on the outskirts, the chances of growing without issue are pretty high.”

“Hmm…”

Then should we just let it go? Luna seemed lost in thought over that.

In the meantime, Sivar, who had approached Usuk, slowly bent one knee. Then he extended his hand towards it.

“Kuah!”

The baby snapped at him as soon as he reached out. It bit him with its undeveloped tusks.

Sivar’s body is inherently tough, but Usuk’s bite force is no joke either. As a result, bright red blood trickled down.

Everyone, including Luna, was taken aback by this display, but Sivar remained expressionless. In fact, he seemed eerily calm.

“Shh shh shh…”

It seemed as if Sivar was reacting to having been bitten, assuring the baby not to worry. In response, Usuk started to loosen its jaw gradually.

As Sivar felt the tension in its jaw relax, he cautiously extended his other hand. Usuk flinched but remained silent and waiting.

Finally, Sivar lightly patted Usuk’s head. It seemed he was expressing regret for just having killed its mother.

‘…Does Sivar also feel guilt?’

Luna contemplated as she watched the scene unfold in real-time. Even if it was just a simple act of interaction, it resonated deeply.

Being accustomed to it, Sivar had undoubtedly lived among beasts. So, in comparison to others, he likely had more experiences of bonding with them.

Moreover, after brawling with Ratatosk, he shows no signs of animosity now. So perhaps the baby Usuk would respond similarly.

“It looks like the situation is handled well.”

“Yeah. We should hurry up and clean up since other monsters might come drawn by the commotion. Let’s call it a day and head back.”

Upon Luna’s remark, Sara smiled faintly as she gave her instructions. Meanwhile, Sivar kept patting Usuk’s head.

This way, the baby Usuk would grow up in the wild, thriving until it was strong and capable. The students watching them thought just that.

Swish-

“Kuuw?”

While patting Usuk’s head, Sivar covered the baby Usuk’s eyes with his hand. Its view obscured, the baby showed a puzzled reaction.

But that wasn’t the end of it. Once Sivar’s hand that had been bitten was free, he began to slowly wrap his arm around its neck.

It was such a natural progression that both Sara and the students wondered what he was doing. But the outcome would soon follow.

Crack!!

“Uh…?”

“Ah…?”

“……?”

The embodiment of shock and horror. It was beyond explanation.

Sivar wrapped his hand around the baby Usuk’s neck and broke it right there. Absolutely mercilessly.

Even with Usuk, joints exist. Therefore, if he breaks its neck joint, it naturally leads to instant death.

Thud-

The baby Usuk, like its mother, slumped to the ground, devoid of life. Sivar gently set it down and stood up.

Despite its cute appearance, there was not an ounce of mercy to be found.

As everyone witnessed the scene in horror, Sivar turned his back towards them.

His infinitely red eyes were calm, but his expression remained serene, as if he had simply done what needed to be done.

“……Why?”

Sivar tilted his head, questioning the gazes directed at him. It was as if he was asking what he had done wrong.

Luna observed his reaction, eyeing both the baby Usuk and Sivar. There was such a vast disconnect that she struggled to find words.

Nonetheless, she pushed herself to speak out. Curiosity had swelled within her.

“S-Sivar? Why… why did you kill the baby? Couldn’t you have just let it go?”

It was a question everyone, including Luna, would understandably be curious about. Why kill a baby that could have been showed mercy?

Sivar blinked at her question. Blinking was one of his peculiar habits.

He was likely mulling over his actions, not fully comprehending what he had just done.

“Mercy.”

“Mercy?”

“Yeah.”

Then what Sivar said next was:

“I sent it away. Together with its mother.”

“…..”

It was a statement that warranted a serious reconsideration of his ethical perspective.

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